Synthesis and characterization of composite Hg-polyaniline powder material

A simple synthesis method is proposed to obtain a composite powder material constituted by polyaniline powder containing mercury droplets closely linked into PANI matrix. ¹⁹⁹Hg solid state NMR spectroscopy indicates that incorporated mercury is in a metallic form and proves a redox reaction between polyaniline (leucoemeraldine form) and an aqueous solution of Hg(I). This composite powder material has been studied by voltammetry with a cavity microelectrode (CME). This electrode appears suitable for characterizing such a material. CME containing Hg-polyaniline (Hg-PANI) powder has been used as an electrochemical microsensor for lead trace analysis by anodic stripping voltammetry of water without electrolyte addition.